Everyone in the modern world uses carbon – lots and lots of carbon. We use carbon for transportation, heating and cooling, building and powering machinery, and many other activities. We use carbon when we fly and carbon when we walk (from the carbon released to grow and transport the food we eat). It’s possible to estimate the amount of carbon that is emitted due to our activities. This is called our carbon footprint. A person’s carbon footprint is the number of tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases she or he emits in a year.

Once you are aware of your carbon footprint, you can do something to lower it. Saul Griffin, a San Francisco engineer, knows exactly how much carbon he emits. Dr. Griffin is spending his life figuring out how to lower that number.

Can You Apply It?

With the links below, calculate your carbon footprint. Then watch the video to see what one engineer is doing to reduce his. After you have done these things, answer the following questions.